Ejector type scraper



Oct. 13, 1964 J- T. MONK EJECTOR TYPE SCRAPER Filed Oct. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amok fimsm/Z/Z away 3% l IIIIIIIII Mm Q 1 Km ww Q hm VII!!! QNWMW Qm M I n u United States Patent 3,152,410 EJECTUR TYPE SCRAPER Tamas T. Monti, Jackson, Miss assignor to M-R- Manufracturing Company, Jackson, Miss, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 31, 11%2, Scr. No. 234,435 11 Claims. (Cl. 37l2 i} This invention relates generally to earth scraper machines and more particularly to arrangements for unloading a charge of earth fill materials from such a machine.

According to the conventional practice, scraper machines comprise a bowl into which dirt and other earth fill materials are loaded. Upon forward movement of the scraper machine, a scraper blade is caused to cut into the materials to be loaded, and the scraper blade directs the materials into the bowl as the earth scraper machine is moved forward. After the bowl is filled, the bowl and the scraper blade are raised to a carrying position; and an apron is lowered over the front end of the bowl to close the bowl and retain the earth fill materials therein. The bowl of the scraper machine is unloaded by first raising the apron and then tilting the bowl to eject the earth fill materials. Certain types of fill materials have a tendency to adhere to the walls and floor of the bowl; and in cold Weather, Wet materials have a tendency to freeze in the bowl. in either of such circumstances, the bowl must be raised to a relatively high angle in order to develop sufiicient shear to dump the fill materials. The reliance on gravity to unload the scraper bowl and the resultant need for lifting of the bowl to a relatively sharp angle produce frequent difficulties in unloading the scraper machine and require an arrangement of the machine which tends to be unstable and subject to tilting in rough terrain or slippery soils.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide an earth scraper machine that is arranged for positive ejection of a load of earth fill materials.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved earth scraper machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an earth scraper machine which is stable and not subject to tilting in either rough terrain or slippery soils.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an earth scraper machine which incorporates a power actuated pusher blade for ejecting earth fill materials from the carrying bowl.

Another still another object of the invention is to provide a scraper machine incorporating a power actuated pusher blade to which full power is applied at the beginning of a discharge stroke and to which less than full power is applied at an increased speed during a later portion of the discharge stroke.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following descriptions.

A structure in accord with the invention includes a bowl having sides and a floor fixed relative to the sides, the floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from the door and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over the floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over the discharge edge and out of the bowl; and a drive arrangement acting between the blade and bowl to move the blade over the floor of the bowl.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing an earth ice scraper machine constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrated as being towed by a tractor;

P18. 2 is an enlarged, central cross-sectional view in side elevation showing the bowl and pusher blade of the scraper machine of the invention, the pusher blade being shown in retracted position in solid outline and being shown in an intermediate position in broken outline;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 2 but illustrating the pusher blade in its extended position where it has achieved complete discharge of the contents of the bowl; and

FIG. 4 is a plan View of the arrangement of FIG. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, an earth scraper machine indicated generally by the numeral it) will be seen attached to an operatorcontrolled tractor 12 by means of a tow bar 14.

The tractor 12 provides a source of motive power for transporting the scraper machine 10 and also affords an operator-controlled power source for operation of the various components of the scraper machine.

The scraper machine it comprises a yoke frame 16 which includes laterally spaced side arms 18 and which is mounted on a pair of rubber tired, front wheels 20 for pivotal attachment to the tow bar 14. A power cylinder 22 is connected between the tractor l2 and the yoke frame 16 tiltably to raise and lower a bowl structure 24 which is connected to the yoke frame 16. The bowl structure 24 includes a supporting frame 26 that is pivotally attached to the arms 18 by pins 28. A bowl 35B is fixed to the frame 26 and a pair of rubber tired wheels 32 is employed in rollably supporting the bowl structure 24 rearwardly of the wheels 2d, the bowl 30 being situated generally between the axles of wheels 26 and 32. A front apron 34 is attached to arms 36 which are, in turn, connected to the bowl structure 24 at pivots 38.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGS. 24 for a more detailed description of the bowl structure 24, the how 3 3' will be seen in include a lateral side 46, and it is to be realized that an opposing side, not shown, is also included. To these sides, a floor 42 is fixed so that the bowl 3%? can receive and contain earth fill materials. The floor 42 terminates in a discharge edge 44 at one end, and a scraper blade 46 is afiixed to the discharge edge to lead the earth fill materials into the bowl during its filling. The lateral sides of the bowl 30 are connected to the bowl-supporting frame 26, specifically to opposed horizontal frame elements, one of which is illustrated by the numeral 48, and to inclined frame elements, one of which is indicated by the numeral 50. The bowl-supporting frame 26 also includes converging, inclined frame elements, such as the inclined frame element 52. A transverse frame element 54 is connected to the frame elements 5i and 52 at their upper junctures. Being fastened to the bowl 39, the horizontal frame element 48 is capable of defining a point rigid with the bowl and spaced rearwardly therefrom; and a mounting element 56 is fastened to the frame element 48 at this point for purposes which will become more apparent hereinafter.

In compliance with an important feature of the invention, a pusher blade 5% is arranged to confront the apron 3- and to upstand from the floor 52 spaced closely thereto, blade 53 being intended to be transported over the fioor 4-2 for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over the discharge edge 44 and out of the bowl 30. Advantageously, anti-friction means are provided to act between the pusher blade 58 and the floor 42 in order to facilitate the movements of the blade back and forth across the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, these anti-friction means take the form of one or more wheel elements such as wheel element 62) which is journaled to a bracket 62, bracket being suitably fastened to the rear wall of pusher blade 58 adjacent the lower edge thereof. It is to be noted that the wheel element locates the lower edge of blade 58 closely to but spaced apart from the upper surface of the floor 42. In order to transport the pusher blade 58 reciprocably over the door 4-2, a drive unit 64 is provided to act between the blade and the bowl 3t specifically between the rear side of the blade and the mounting element 56.

The drive unit 64 includes forcibly extensible and retractable means comprising a double-acting hydraulic jack 66 which is pivotally attached to the mounting element 56 by a coupling 63. The drive unit 64 also includes a mechanically multiplying linkage connected between the hydraulic jack 66 and the pusher blade 58. Specifically, this mechanical linkage comprises a link 7:) which is pivotally connected to the rear side of blade 58 adjacent a mid-portion thereof at a bracket 72. The link 70 is also pivotally connected to an end portion '74 of a link 76; and the hydraulic jack 66 is pivotally connected to the link '76 at a mid-portion thereof by means of a pin 78.

In order that full power may be applied from the hydraulic jack 66 to the pusher blade 5? at the beginning of a discharge stroke and in order to apply less than full power at a gradually increasing speed during a later portion of the discharge stroke, a guide channel 8th is fixed to the frame element 52 and to the side of the bowl 3%) in alignment with the path of movement of the pusher blade 58. A roller 82 is journaled to an upper end portion 84 of link 76, and the roller 32. is situated in the guide channel 86 to be rollably operative therein. In order to arrest movement of the roller 82 at an intermediate stage in the discharge stroke of pusher blade 58, a stop unit is situated at the forward end of the guide channel S-ll; and in compliance with the illustrated embodiment, this stop unit includes opposed ridges 85 formed in the top and bottom flanges of channel 8%). In addition, a roller 86 is mounted on the end of an arm 87 which is coupled to roller 82, roller 86 and arm 87 serving to support and push the upper edge of blade 58 at the beginning of a discharge stroke.

In compliance with another feature of the invention, means are provided to guide the movements of the pusher blade 58 in a rectilinear path forwards and backwards over the fioor 42 of the bowl 3%. Pursuant to this objective, a horizontal slot 96 is cut in the lateral side 46 of the bowl to extend parallel to the floor spaced thereabove. The slot h'l forms a track, and a track roller 92 is journaled to a bracket 94 which is, in turn, secured to the rear side of the pusher blade 58. Track roller 92 rides in the slot hi) to guide the reciprocable movements of blade 58 and to prevent canting thereof. A similar slot and track roller are provided on the opposite lateral side of the bowl 3% to further the desired objective. It is recognized that the end of the slot 90 may be situated so as to define the limits of travel for the pusher blade 58.

As is well shown in FIG. 4, the drive unit 64 is spaced closely to one side of the bowl structure 24. According- 13 a duplicate drive unit is advantageously arranged adjacent the opposite side of the bowl structure.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is desirable now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts cooperate. Assuming that a quantity of earth fill material has been loaded into the bowl 3% and further assuming that the scraper machine it? has been transported to a location where it is desired to dump the earth fill material, the pusher blade as and the drive unit 64 will have been positioned as illustrated in solid outline in FIG. 2. There, the pusher blade is disposed at the rear of the bowl and the mechanical linkage incorporated in the drive unit is disposed in its retracted position. To initiate the unloading of the bowl 3t), tne apron 34 is raised and the hydraulic jack 66 is actuated to drive the link 76 in a generally forward direction. Comparing the two positions of link '76 which are illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be noted that the initial movement of this link is a substantially rectilinear movement without any substantial pivoting of the link. Correspondingly, the link '76 moves in a rectilinear path; and substantially full power is applied from the jack 66 to the pusher blade A transition point is reached when the track roller 62 confronts the stop ridges 85 as is shown in broken outline in FIG. 2, the engage rent of these members preventing further movement of the upper end portion 84 of the link Thereupon, the link '76 tends to rotate or pivot about the roller 82; and the links '76 and 7t thereafter act to multiply the displacement of the hydraulic jack 66. Thus, less than full power is thereafter applied to the pusher blade 53 at a gradually increasing speed. The described arrangement of the drive unit establishes maximum power application to the pusher blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke whereby to overcome the inertia of the loaded earth fill material and whereby to overcome any adhesion effects between the material and the sides and floor of the bowl 3%. Once the load of earth fill material is moving over the floor 42 of the bowl and a portion of the fill material has been unloaded, the speed of discharge is increased whereby to establish a timewisc efficient unloading of the bowl 3%.

The specific example herein shown and described is to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said iloor and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over said fioor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; and drive means acting to move said blade over said fioor, including guide means aligned with the path of movement of said blade and taking an efiective length less than said path, a first link having one end portion slidably and pivotally operable relative to said guide means, a second link pivotally connected to said blade and to the other end portion of said first link, and forcibly extensible and retractable means operative between said bowl means and a midportion of said first link, whereby to apply full power to said blade at the beginning of a discharge Stroke and whereby to apply less than full power at an increased speed during a later portion of said stroke.

2. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said floor and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over said fioor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; and drive means acting between said blade and said bowl means to move said blade over said floor, including guide means aligned with the path of movement of said blade and taking an effective length less than said path, a first link having one end portion slidably and pivotally operable relative to said guide means, a second link pivotally connected to said blade adjacent a mid-portion thereof and to the other end portion of said first link and forcibly extensible and retractable means operative between said bowl means and a mid-portion of said first link, whereby to apply full power to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and whereby less than full power at an increased speed during a later portion of said stroke.

3. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said floor and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over said floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; and drive means acting to move said blade over said floor, including a guide channel aligned with the path of movement of said blade, a first link, roller means journaled to one end of said link and rollable in said guide channel, a second link pivotally connected to said blade and to the other end portion of said first link, hydraulic jack means operative between said bowl means and a mid-portion of said first link, and stop means on said guide channel for arresting movement of said roller means at an intermediate stage in a discharge stroke of said blade to permit said first and second links to multiply the displacement thereafter transmited from said jack means to said blade, whereby full power is applied to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and whereby less than full power is applied at a gradually increasing speed after said roller means has engaged said stop means.

4. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said floor and spaced closely thereto "tobe transportable over said floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; and drive means acting to move said blade over said floor, including jack means connected to said bowl means and having an element extensible therefrom, said drive means further including mechanical multiplying linkage means connecting said element to said blade, said linkage means including a first link connected to said extensible element and a second link connected intermediate with said blade and said first link, whereby full power is applied to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and less than full power is applied at a gradually increasing speed during a later portion of said stroke.

5. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said floor and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over said floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; track means acting between said blade and opposing sides of said bowl means to guide the movement of said blade in a rectilinear path; and drive means acting to move said blade over said floor, including a guide channel aligned with the path of movement of said blade, a first link, roller means journaled to one end portion of said link and rollable in said guide channel, a second link pivotally connected to said blade and to the other end portion of said first link, hydraulic jack means operative between said bowl means and a mid-portion of said first link, and stop means on said guide channel for arresting movement of said roller means at an intermediate stage in a discharge stroke of said blade to permit said first and second links to multiply the displacement thereafter transmitted from said jack means to said blade, whereby full power is applied to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and whereby less than full power is applied at a gradually increasing speed after said roller means has engaged said stop means.

6. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides for receiving and containing earth fill the movements of said blade in a rectilinear path; anddrive means acting to move said blade over said floor, including jack means connected to said bowl means and having an element extensible therefrom, said drive means further including mechanical multiplying linkage means connecting said element to said blade, said linkage means including a first link connected to said extensible element and a second link connected intermediate said blade and said first link, whereby said blade is moved in a rectilinear path and full power is applied to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and less than full power is applied at a gradually increasing speed during a later portion of said stroke.

7. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a floor fixed relative to said sides to receive and contain earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; an apron selectively opening and closing said bowl means at said edge; a blade confronting said apron, upstanding from said floor and spaced closely to said floor to be transportable over said floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; anti-friction acting between said blade and said floor to facilitate the movements of said blade; track means acting between said blade and said bowl means to guide movements of said blade in a rectilinear path; and drive means acting between said blade and said bowl means to move said blade over said floor, including a guide channel aligned with the path of movement with said blade, at first link, roller means journaled to one end portion of said link and rollable in said guide channel, a second link pivotally connected to said blade adjacent a mid-portion thereof and to the other end portion of said first link, hydraulic jack means operative between said bowl means and a mid-portion of said first link, and stop means on said guide channel for arresting movement of said roller means at an intermediate stage in a discharge stroke of said blade to permit said first and second links to multiply the displacement thereafter transmitted from said jack means to said blade, whereby full power is applied to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and whereby less than full power is applied at a gradually increasing speed after said roller means has engaged said stop means.

8. In an earth scraper machine, the combination comprising: bowl means including sides and a fioor fixed relative to said sides for receiving and containing earth fill materials therein, said floor terminating in a discharge edge at one end; a blade upstanding from said floor and spaced closely thereto to be transportable over said floor for sweeping a charge of earth fill material over said discharge edge and out of said bowl means; track means acting between said blade and opposed sides of said bowl means to guide the movements of said blade in a rectilinear path; guide means aligned with the path of movement of said blade and taking an effective length less than said path; and drive means acting to move said blade over said floor, including a first link having one end portion slidably and pivotally operable relative to said guide means, a second link pivotally connected to said blade and to the other end portion of said first link, and f0rcibly extensible and retractable means operative between said bowl means and a mid-portion of said first link, whereby to apply full power to said blade at the beginning of a discharge stroke and whereby to apply less than full power at an increased speed during a later portion of said stroke.

9. An earth moving machine comprising frame means, ground engaging transport means movably mounted on '8 said frame means, carrying means for earth and the like having a supporting floor and open along the front thereof, said floor having a front edge over which dirt and the like is loaded and unloaded, said carrying means having at the back thereof transverse pusher means movable from a position near the back of said carrying means to a position adjacent said front edge to eject dirt and the like over said front edge, power means connected to said frame means, and drive means interconnecting said power means and said pusher means, said drive means including means for initially moving said pusher means at a relatively slow speed and with a relatively great force, and for subsequently moving said pusher means at a relatively greater speed and with a relatively lesser force; said drive means including a link connected at an intermediate position to said power means, means connecting said link on one side of said intermediate position to said pusher means, and means on said link at a position opposite said one side relative to said intermediate position interconnected with said frame means for allowing limited t.) translatory movement of said link at said opposite position and for subsequently limiting said opposite position against further translatory movement.

10. An earth moving machine as set forth in claim 9 Wherein the means for allowing limited translatory movement at the opposite position comprises a guide fixed on said frame means, and a follower on said link at said opposite position received and guided by said guide means.

11. An earth moving machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said power means is a unitary power means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,353,120 Austin July 11, 1944 2,445,053 Allin July 13, 1948 2,477,811 LeTourneau Aug. 2, 1949 2,935,803 Rockwell May 10, 1960 2,965,988 Monk Dec. 27, 1960 2,988,832 Hancock June 20, 1961 

1. IN AN EARTH SCRAPER MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: BOWL MEANS INCLUDING SIDES AND A FLOOR FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID SIDES TO RECEIVE AND CONTAIN EARTH FILL MATERIALS THEREIN, SAID FLOOR TERMINATING IN A DISCHARGE EDGE AT ONE END; A BLADE UPSTANDING FROM SAID FLOOR AND SPACED CLOSELY THERETO TO BE TRANSPORTABLE OVER SAID FLOOR FOR SWEEPING A CHARGE OF EARTH FILL MATERIAL OVER SAID DISCHARGE EDGE AND OUT OF SAID BOWL MEANS; AND DRIVE MEANS ACTING TO MOVE SAID BLADE OVER SAID FLOOR, INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS ALIGNED WITH THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE AND TAKING AN EFFECTIVE LENGTH LESS THAN SAID PATH, A 